Saarland Abitur Technology (Saarland Abitur) exam-day guide
Saarland Abitur Technology · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission letter and photo ID
Bring the invitation/admission document issued by your school or the examination board together with a valid photo ID (Personalausweis or passport). Exactly which ID types are accepted, and whether a copy suffices, is set by the examining authority - confirm with the provider (your school's Oberstufenleitung or the Ministerium für Bildung und Kultur) before exam day.
Permitted materials list for your subject
Technology tasks may require a non-programmable calculator, drawing instruments (ruler, set square, compass, pencil grades), and formula or data sheets. The exact permitted set differs per subject and per task type, so check the official instructions for your written and practical components rather than assuming; confirm with the provider which aids are allowed.
Approved reference texts (if any)
Some subjects allow a dictionary, a legal text collection, or a specified norm excerpt. Whether these are allowed in the technology component, and in which unmarked edition, must be confirmed with the provider; do not bring annotated or loose-leaf materials unless explicitly permitted.
Writing and drawing equipment
Bring several pens, spare leads, eraser, sharpener, coloured pencils if you use them for sketches, and a geometry set. For technical drawings, check whether the school supplies drawing paper and whether sketches must be done in pencil or ink.
Watch (non-smart)
Many rooms have a clock but not always in view. A simple analogue or digital watch without communication or storage functions is usually acceptable; smartwatches are normally prohibited. Confirm the exact rule with the provider.
Food, drink, and medication
Bring water in a closed container and a light snack for longer sittings. If you need medication or have a documented health accommodation, arrange it in advance with the school and bring the necessary proof; special arrangements (Nachteilsausgleich) must be applied for before the exam, not on the day.
No phones or smart devices at the desk
Mobile phones, smartwatches, and any device with storage or communication capability are normally switched off and handed in or stored away from the workspace. Leaving a device on your person can be treated as an attempt to cheat; confirm the exact procedure with the provider.
Know your room, seat, and start time
Confirm room number, building, and reporting time in advance. Arrive with buffer for transport; late arrival rules are set by the examination board, so confirm with the provider what happens if you are delayed.
Planned task-selection strategy
Written Abitur papers often offer a choice of tasks or task parts. Before the exam, decide your rough reading time, selection criteria, and time budget per task so you do not lose minutes deciding under pressure. Confirm the number of tasks and the choice rules for your subject with the provider.
Review your own error list
Bring a one-page summary of mistakes you made in practice (unit conversions, sign errors, missing labels on drawings, unstated assumptions). Re-read it the morning of the exam rather than trying new material.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Re-read your formula sheet and error list, and do one timed rehearsal under exam-like conditions (same aids, no phone). Check that all permitted materials are complete and unmarked.
Confirm logistics: room, start time, transport, and whether any materials must be handed in or checked beforehand. If anything about permitted aids or accommodations is unclear, contact the school now, not on exam day.
Do a light pass over the topics you are least secure in, focusing on method rather than detail. Prepare your bag with ID, admission letter, pens, drawing tools, calculator, and water so nothing depends on the morning.
No intensive study. Skim your summary sheet once, set out clothes and bag, charge nothing you cannot bring (leave smart devices at home if possible), and go to bed at a normal time. Avoid comparing preparation with classmates.
Eat a normal breakfast, arrive early, and keep the pre-exam conversation light. Re-read only your error list and formula sheet; do not attempt new problems. Switch off and stow your phone before entering the room.
Read the instructions on the paper carefully: number of tasks, choice rules, time allowed, and where to write your name and candidate number. Check that the paper is complete and legible; raise a hand immediately if pages are missing or printing is faulty.
Use the reading time to survey all tasks, mark keywords, and choose your tasks deliberately. Write a short time plan with fixed cut-off points for each task and reserve the last minutes for checking.
Work through tasks in your planned order, starting with the one you are most confident in to secure marks. Show method and units, label sketches and drawings, and state assumptions explicitly. If you get stuck, note it and move on; return later.
Stop writing new content with enough time to check: candidate number on every sheet, all sub-parts answered, units and significant figures consistent, drawings labelled, and no loose sheets left unmarked. Hand in all materials as instructed.
Rules to check
Bring your admission letter and a valid photo ID; the exact accepted documents are set by the examining authority, so confirm with the provider before exam day.
Use only the aids explicitly permitted for your subject and component. If a material is not clearly allowed, leave it out or clarify in advance; confirm the list with the provider.
Phones, smartwatches, and other communication or storage devices must be switched off and stored as instructed. Keeping a device accessible during the exam can be treated as an attempt to cheat.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on seating, starting, and stopping. Writing after the stop signal, or continuing after time is called, may lead to the task not being scored.
If you need to leave the room (for example for a break or the toilet), raise your hand and wait to be accompanied or given permission according to the school's procedure; confirm the local rule with the provider.
If you feel unwell or cannot continue, tell the invigilator immediately. Rules on illness during the exam and on later recognition of incapacity are set by the examination board; confirm the required evidence and deadlines with the provider.
Scoring follows the official assessment criteria for the subject. Marks are awarded for method, correct use of technical terminology, and clear documentation, so show working and label drawings rather than giving results only.
Any suspicion of cheating or of disruptive behaviour is handled under the examination regulations. Do not discuss task content with others during the exam period; confirm the applicable rules with the provider.